Self-playing piano attachment.



PATBNTED FEB. 20, M306.

J. W. DARLEY, JR. SELF PLAYING PIANO ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED. SEPT.26, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

Gu ana No. 813,356. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

J. W. DARLBY, JR. SBLP'PLAYING PIANO ATTACHMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.26, 1905 2 SHEBTS-SHEBT 2.

['0 all; w/wmit "my concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

JOHN W. DARLEY, JR., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 'ASSIGNOR TO WlLLlAM KNABE & COMPANY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

SELF-PLAYING PIANO ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application flled September 26, 1906. Serial No 280,226.

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. DARLEY, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Self-Playing Piano Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, such as will enable 0t ers skilled in the a t to which it appertains to make and use t same.

My invention relates to improvements in self-playing piano attachments; and the ob- ].eet of my invention is to provide an attachment for a self-playin piano so arranged that the piano may be played in the ordinary way or be used as what is commonly known as a self-playin' piano, and so that in the latter case the eye may be either locked against motion or may be allowed to move, at the will of the operator, since some persons prefer the one and others the other method.

With this object in view my invention con-- sists in the construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the aecompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is an end view of a part of a piano, showing my attachmentapplied thereto, one of the sides thereof having been removed; and Fig. 2 is a detail view. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the pianoaction.

a represents one of the keys'mounted in the ordinary manner.

b represents a key-slip arranged to fold outwardly to permit the self-pla ing attachment to be operated. onnected to the keyslip b is a sliding rod 0, which is bent downwardly and is provided with a horizontal pin (l, which pin is adapted to engage the unlocking-rod e, which is controlled by the spring f, all of the parts named being of the same construction as that set forth in my companion application of even date here 4 of the top piece.

' and h, and la represents a hinge connecting 3 represents a hinge connecting the parts g the parts h and Connected to the rear part 1 of the lid by gravit a cross-bar r, provided with a felt cover, and

the rear portion of the lid 'i is beveled off, as shown at s, and provided with a felt strip.

On each side of the piano is a bracket t, substantially triangular in form and rovided with a rounded extension a. he

bracket 2! is pivoted on a pin 12', and firmly at-v tached to the bracket is a block w, which is slotted, as shown at w, for the rece tion of a screw y, all of these parts being dup icated'on the other side of the piano. The screw y passes into a bar .2, which runs entirely across the piano and is arranged at times to contact with the strips of felt I on the top of the keys (1.

' In the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the keysa are locked, the heav blocks' to holding down the bar .2 against t e keys by If the parts 9 and h of the 11d are turne backward, the keys are then exposed. If then the key-slip b is turned down into the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the self-playing mechanism may bebrought into play and the keys will still be locked. If, however, the operator prefers to see the ke s move during the performance, as is often t e lines in Fig. 1, which is also the osition formanual operation, whereupon t e beveled portion 8 of the part i of the lid comes in contact with the extensions u of the brackets t,

turning the brackets t, which carry with them the locking-bar .2, into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

It will be seen from the foregoing descri tion that by the attachment described tl i piano may be either operated in the usual way or as t; self-playing piano, and that in the latter case the keys may be either locked or free pto move, at the will of the operator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- .ters Patent, is-

1. In a self-playing piano attachment yj l ie combination of keys, means for locking said keys, and a movable lid, said lid being adapted to engage with said means to throw it out of operation when desired, substantially as described.

2. In a self-playing piano attachment, the combination of keys, means for locking said keys, a lid composed of parts hinged together and adapted to be slid backward to strike a part of said locking means and thereby disengage them from said keys, substantially as described.

3. In a selflaying piano attachment, the combination 0 ivoted keys, a bar supported on pivoted brac acts for locking said keys, and a movable lid, the parts being so arranged thatthe lid when slid backward strikes said brackets and prevents said bar from looking said keys, substantially as described.

4. In a self-playing piano attachment, the combination or keys, a lid composed of parts hinged together and having a'beveled portion and adapted to he slid backward into the piano, a pivoted bracket located on each side of said piano, and a locking-bar adjustably secured to said brackets, said brackets being so arranged'that the beveled portion of the lid as it is slid backward strikes said bra and ii ts said out oi contact with keys, substantially as described.

5. In a self-playing piano attachment, the combination 01 a lid composed of three parts hinged together, the rear part having a beveled portion, said lid being adapted to slide backward into said piano, a lever hinged to the rear part of said iid, keys, a bracket pivoted to each side of the piano, and a locking bar for said keys adjnstably connected to said brackets, the parts being so arranged that the beveled portion of the lid will strike said brackets when it is slid backward and lift said locking-bar out of contact with said keys, substantially as described.

6. In a self-playing piano attachment, the combination of means for unlocking the selfplaging piano part, and means for locking sai keys against movement or unlocking them at the will of the operator, substantially as described. 7

7. In a self-playing piano attachment, the combination of means for unlocking the self playing portion, keys, pivoted brackets carrymg a locking-bar for said keys, and a sliding lid adapted when slid backward to strike said brackets and lift said her out of contact with said keys, substantially as described.

8. In a self-playing iano attachment, the I combination 0 a key-s i and a bar operated thereby to release the se f- )laying portion of the piano, keys, a lockin ar for said keys, brackets'pivoted to the sides of the piano supporting said bar, and a hinged. and sliding adapted, when slid back, to strike said brackets and lift said bar out of engagement with 'said keys, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. DARLELJn,

Witnesses CHARLES R, Bon'r rsnn, E. A. Dow. 

